Homilist 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.… "He that would be a good man must have either a friend to admonish him or an enemy to watch over him." Censoriousness — I. IS A NIMROD, a mighty hunter for faults (Jeremiah 20:10; Psalm 56:6). Faithfulness does not delight to dwell on a fault, but censoriousness does. II. A MIGHTY CREATOR It makes faults where there are none; it puts the worst construction on words and actions. Examples: The Pharisees and disciples going through the corn-fields. Eliab to David. It calls zeal rashness — Michael to David. Faithfulness is discreet in its decisions. III. IS AN EASY RELIEVER WHERE HE IS NOT AN INVENTOR OF FAULTS. Examples: The two false witnesses against Christ. The people of Ephesus when Demetrius slandered Paul. The Israelites when the spies returned and brought the evil report which the Israelites believed. Faithfulness is not credulous; it believes not every spirit, but "tries the spirits." IV. IS A KIND OF OPTICIAN. It magnifies small things, makes a man an offender for a word, carries magnifying-glasses with it. Faithfulness endeavours to mitigate the offence (1 Peter 4:8). V. IS A KIND OF CRIER. It propagates the faults of men where they are not known. Example: Ham (Genesis 9:20-22). Faithfulness concealeth the matter (Genesis 9:33; Proverbs 11:13). VI. DELIGHTS TO DWELL ON A FAULT (Psalm 102:8). Faithfulness grieves and laments the failings of others (Proverbs 24:17). VII. IS VERY SUPERCILIOUS IN ITS REPROOFS (Isaiah 55:5; Luke 18:11). Faithfulness is tender of the reputation of others, and desires to reclaim and restore them. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.WEB: I don't write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. |
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